The shifting of mankind’s origins: paleoanthropology in and beyond the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract

This article examines the works of the Argentinian naturalist Florentino Ameghino (1854-1911) and the German zoologist Hermann von Ihering (1850-1930) concerning the origin and classification of human ‘races’ and the development of human culture. The research is primarily founded on an analysis of letters exchanged between these two scholars, emphasizing the significance of skulls as tangible evidence in the reconstruction of human evolution. The article delves into Ihering’s pivotal role in the formulation of a standardized craniometric system, following which it explores Ameghino’s propositions regarding the origin and local development of the human species. Subsequently, the reception of Ameghino’s ideas by Ihering and the latter’s investigations into the origins of human culture are scrutinized. This investigation illuminates a network of local, transnational, and transatlantic connections, within which study objects, instruments, and epistemes were disseminated. The collective nature of anthropological practices is underscored, underpinned by the principles of collaboration, alliance, and competition at multiple levels. In conclusion, the authors argue that the relationship between Ameghino and Ihering demonstrates the extent to which anthropological knowledge evolved into a collective, transnational, and dialogical endeavor. Even theories and hypotheses that have subsequently become marginalized in the history of anthropology are recognized as crucial stepping stones in the construction of anthropological knowledge.